Monasterio El Olivar

Accommodation

The Monastery El Olivar is a historic space inhabited by the Mercedarian community, surrounded by pine forests and deep silence. It offers rooms, apartments and meeting areas in a peaceful environment ideal for resting, studying or enjoying retreats. The experience combines heritage, nature and warm hospitality, with spacious dining rooms and traditional cuisine.

Birdwatching and the “Ruta de los Pajaricos”

The monastery lies within the territory of the Ruta de los Pajaricos in the Andorra–Sierra de Arcos region, a mosaic of mountain ranges, riverbanks and Mediterranean woodlands that hosts remarkable bird diversity.

Just a few minutes from the accommodation is the Musealized Space of the Estercuel River, an easy circular route that passes through poplar groves, traditional orchards and pine and holm oak slopes. The trail includes interpretive panels and 3D bird figures, and offers sightings of forest and farmland species such as robin, great tit, blue tit, great spotted woodpecker, larks and crested larks.

Astrotourism

El Olivar is a privileged place to experience the night in all its depth. Its clean, dark skies, far from light pollution, invite unhurried walks under the Moon and the constellations, listening to the silence of the valley and the murmur of the river. The observation activities combine naked‑eye sky interpretation, mythology, astronomy and the thrill of watching the celestial dome unfold as your eyes adapt to the darkness. For groups, telescope sessions and night‑photography experiences —including the Milky Way— are also offered, turning each “star bath” into a sensory and poetic encounter that connects visitors with nature and with the deep time of the cosmos.